Festo products for cleanrooms

Not at all. There are always applications where standard solutions no longer fit the bill. For example, when the cleanliness requirements are so strict that only a special solution can be used. We can help here, too. A simple modification is often all it takes. It’s best if you contact our experts directly in cases like this.

Adapted special solutions

We have more than 20 years of cleanroom experience and our engineers continuously adapt series components in order to make them suitable for use in class 4 or stricter environments in accordance with ISO 14664.

We use a tried-and-tested two-stage consultation concept in which we listen to you and address the problem together. Highly sensitive zones can often be isolated, outside of which an ISO class 5 or 6 component will suffice. Our engineers put everything together and submit a solution to you, along with a quote.

Our products are tested and qualified by certified institutes according to ISO 14644. You can read about how the measurements are carried out in the test reports. Here you can find out, for instance, what the operating conditions during the test were and which test equipment was used.

How is the test carried out?

We clean the products with isopropanol and ultrapure air, carry out visual checks and then have them tested. Our test samples come directly from Festo stock, so we don't preselect them as is the case with other suppliers.

You can rest assured that cleanroom solutions from Festo are tested and classified according to ISO 14644-1. ISO 14644 divides cleanrooms into nine classes according to the number and size of airborne particles.

Please note: our classification only provides an indication of how you can use our products in cleanrooms. If there is any doubt, we recommend performing the tests under real conditions.

To ensure that you quickly arrive at a functioning cleanroom application, we’ve compiled all tested components from more than 80 of Festo’s product ranges in our cleanroom catalogue. These include all types of pneumatic drives, valves and valve terminals, compressed air preparation and accessories, as well as electric drive technology. This is generally sufficient.

Cleanroom catalogue plus X

If you’re interested in a product that we haven’t tested yet for its cleanroom compatibility, we’d be happy to test it for you on request. Our specialists are always happy to answer any other questions you might have, and can also quite easily adapt particular products to be suitable for ISO class 4.

The most important criterion is that the products comply with the specified cleanroom class during operation. That’s what really counts. All cleanroom products from Festo are certified in accordance with the VDI standard and classified to ISO 14644-14. However, the cleanroom class depends on where in the application the product is used. This sounds complicated but is actually good news.

Cleanroom class according to location of use

The fact that the cleanroom compatibility of operating equipment always depends on where it’s used means that you don’t have to implement stricter cleanliness everywhere. Cleanrooms are not homogenous zones. Maybe you need ISO-14644-14 class 5 directly above the workpiece, while class 7 is enough for the rest of the workflow. In other words, the standard products from Festo fulfil the requirements in most cases.
The same positive answer also applies to cleanroom compatibility for packaging. Technically correct cleanroom packaging is possible with Festo, but it’s seldom really necessary and represents a cost factor that you can often do away with. Our experience shows that most components can be assembled and prepared for shipping in a normal environment. Final cleaning takes place directly on-site.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any doubts. For example, if the component needs to fulfil a safety function or if your ambient conditions differ from the values listed in the data sheet.

When wiring the end-position switches of double-acting cylinders, you need to make sure that you can’t move the cables and that they don’t rub against each other or any other equipment.

You should avoid high-force impacts in the end position. That's what cylinder cushioning is for. Adjustable and self-adjusting PPV and PPS variants significantly reduce particle emissions.

It’s better not to use single-acting cylinders because particles are discharged into the atmosphere via the exhaust. The piston rod seal is also considerably thicker in double-acting cylinders.

The cylinder fittings are leak-free when correctly assembled [1]. The piston rod seal, on the other hand, is a source of particle contamination due to its design. A bellows or vacuum exhaust can therefore be helpful [2].

You should avoid using rod eyes [1], rod clevises, flexible couplings and swivel flanges [2] since they generate abraded particles. Make sure that tubing doesn’t move or rub against anything.

In the case of vacuum applications, it is advisable to use our rotary drives. This is because rotary motion is easier to seal than linear motion, and is therefore more suitable.

Fine particulates and contamination should be filtered out in several stages during compressed air preparation. We recommend using a filter cascade with 40 [1], 5 [2] and 1 µm [3] stages in cleanrooms.

The pilot air for valves is hardly ever of any importance [1]. In contrast, exhaust air always has to be contained and must not be discharged into the cleanroom via silencers [3]. When correctly mounted, fittings are leak-free [2].

Spindle axes are better suited for cleanrooms than toothed belt axes; they cause less abrasion and discharge fewer particles. Furthermore, the spindles are greased and thus the abraded particles stick to them.

Standard energy chains are critical in cleanrooms. Although there are special energy chains for cleanrooms, it's generally better to ensure during the design phase that the handling unit is placed where possible underneath the workpiece.